Romania has held its first international sand polo tournament at the Singureni Manor Equestrian Retreat south of Bucharest.
The First Singureni Manor Polo Cup Arena – organized by the Singureni Polo Sports Club Association, in collaboration with World Polo, took place from Oct. 11-13 and was sold out less than a month after tickets went on sale.
More than 2,800 participants enjoyed an electrifying show in the warm autumn sunshine, similar to those in St. Moritz, Dubai or Miami.
The event was opened by Romanian swimmer and Olympic gold medalist David Popovici, who introduced the new sport on the national scene.
Cristina Rosu, founder of the Singureni Polo Sports Club Association, said:
“This tournament marks a historic moment for Romania and I thank David for being with us. In fact, the feedback we received from all the spectators was extraordinary, because the 6000 m2 arena allowed them to be very close to the playing space, to feel the emotion of the players, the vibration of the horses, to experience every win and failure. “
Romania, which banned horse racing and polo under communism, only began to see the emergence of a functioning sport in recent years.
Even a traditional horse race to mark Epiphany which started more than one hundred years ago, was banned during the years of Communist rule, due to its association with a religious holiday.
But horse sports have a long history in Romania. The Romanian Jockey Club was established in Bucharest in 1875, in a bid to improve the English purebred horse, the world’s third such club, after England and France. The first horse race was held in 1875, and the club’s honorary president was Romania’s future sovereign, Carol I, and after him, all Kings of Romania would be holders of the title.
Reto Gaudenzi, founder of World Polo, said at the end of the event: “It’s incredible. I have been organizing such events for many years, all over the world. I am celebrating the 100th polo event of my career at Singureni where the high level –of organization, public energy and enthusiasm far exceeded my expectations.”
He said World Polo would continue to bring international horse polo tournaments to Romania “for at least another three years”.
“Polo has arrived in Romania and will remain here.”
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